Poultry feeder pan for auger-type feeders

ABSTRACT

A poultry feeder pan and supply conveyor arrangement, of the type wherein the supply conveyor has an opening in its bottom through which feed is dropped into the feeder pan, wherein the feeder pan includes a baffle plate and a platelike feeler arm spaced from the latter and positioned parallel thereto, to thereby define a channel which confines the feed dropped into the feeder pan for better sensitivity and increased reliability of a switching means controlled by such feeler arm. Where the supply conveyor is an auger operating within a tubular housing, the structure of the invention includes an arbor shaft rotatably mounted within such housing, along the axis of the auger, and having a circular pluglike member mounted on the shaft immediately downstream of the aforementioned feed-drop opening in the tubular auger housing, to which the downstream end of the auger is secured and which provides an anchor therefor. This pluglike member positively impedes the passage of feed along the conveyor tube beyond the opening in the latter through which feed drops into the feeder pan, such that all feed is, in effect, blocked within the auger tube and thrust downward into the feeder pan. Further, a circular disclike bearing is secured to the arbor shaft immediately downstream of the aforementioned pluglike member to support the arbor shaft at such point and, at the same time, to positively block any feed from working its way downstream beyond that point. This bearing rotates upon the arbor shaft and against the inside of the auger housing, and it preferably has an outer or circumferential periphery of lubricous plastic or the like to reduce the frictional contact between it and the auger housing.

United States Patent 72] Inventors Robert L. Van Huis;

Dee Dexter Allen, Zeeland, Mich. [Zl Appl. No. 721,720 [22] Filed Apr.16. 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 2, 1971 l 73] Assignee U. S. Industries,Inc.

New York, N.Y.

[54] POULTRY FEEDER PAN FOR AUGER-TYPE FEEDERS 15 Claims, 4 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl. 119/53 [51] A0lk 5/00 [50] FieldofSearch 119/52,

5l.ll,,53,53.5, 56; l98/2l3,64; ZZZ/412,413

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,906,395 511933 Meeks198/213 2,961,126 11/1960 Craig ll9/53X 3,211,339 10/1965 Piper etal..... ll9/56X 3,230,933 H1966 Myers et al. 119/53 PrimaryExaminer--Hugh R. Chamblee Attorney-Price, Heneveld, Huizenga and CooperABSTRACT: A poultry feeder pan and supply conveyor arrangement, of thetype wherein the supply conveyor has an opening in its bottom throughwhich feed is dropped into the feeder pan, wherein the feeder panincludes a baffle plate and a platelike feeler arm spaced from thelatter and positioned parallel thereto, to thereby define a channelwhich confines the feed dropped into the feeder pan for bettersensitivity and increased reliability of a switching means controlled bysuch feeler am. Where the supply conveyor is an auger operating within atubular housing, the structure of the invention includes an arbor shaftrotatably mounted within such housing, along the axis of the auger, andhaving a circular pluglike member mounted on the shaft immediatelydownstream of the aforementioned feed-drop opening in the tubular augerhousing, to which the downstream end of the auger is secured and whichprovides an anchor therefor. This pluglike member positively impedes thepassage of feed along the conveyor tube beyond the opening in the latterthrough which feed drops into the feeder pan, such that all feed is, ineffect,

PATENIEDMAR 2m 3,566,843

SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTORS weer 1. up 1/01.: 0545 osxrae aueu BY Qe /MPOULTRY FEEDER PAN FDR AUGfiER-TYPE FEEDERS BACKGROUND Poultry feedersare now in common usage which utilize an elongated feed conveyor and aplurality of feeder pans disposed beneath the feed conveyor and in flowcommunication with feed drop openings located in the bottom of theconveyor trough or housing, such that as the conveyor moves feed alongits length the feeder pans are gradually filled by the feed droppingdownwardly into them. Normally, most of the feed moved along theconveyor falls first into the first feeder pan encountered along thelength of the conveyor until such pan is filled, whereupon the nextfeeder pan in the succession thereof is filled, then the next, etc.

In such a system, the feed conveyor is normally shut off at such time asthe last feeder pan in the sequence thereof becomes filled; thus, it ismanifestly desirable to incorporate a feed-sensing means in the finalsuch feeder pan, by which the feed conveyor is automatically shut offwhen this feeder pan is filled. it is, of course, exceedingly importantto have a sensitive and reliable feed-sensing means for controlling thefeed conveyor, so that the same will not be shut down until the lastfeeder pan in the succession thereof is actually filled with feed, andalso so that the feeder conveyor will absolutely be shut off withoutfail at the correct time.

Further, when auger-type feed conveyors are used, as is frequently thecase, it is very important that the feed carried along the length of theconveyor to the last feeder pan actually drop into such pan and not becarried therebeyond, since an auger-type conveyor always has either adrive motor and gear head assembly or else a bearing assembly at itsdownstream end and it is of utmost importance that feed moved along thelength of the conveyor be prevented from being forced into such bearingsand/or gear head by the operation of the auger, inasmuch as this willcontaminate and foul the same, with resultant malfunction and breakdown.

Previous feeder systems of this type have been subject to numerousdifficulties and chronic problems in the sensitivity and reliability oftheir automatic conveyor shutoff mechanisms, and they also have beensubject to numerous difficulties and instances of bearing failure due tocompacted feed either pushed or pulled into the bearings by theoperation of the auger.

SUMMARY OF lNVENTlON The present invention provides a feeder pan forfeeder systems of the aforementioned nature, wherein an improvedfeed-sensing apparatus is provided to achieve greater controlsensitivity and reliability, and wherein feed barrier means are providedwithin the auger housing for simultaneously preventing feed from movingbeyond a desired point while at the same time forcing such feed into thefeeder pan which controls the feed conveyor.

briefly stated, the improved feed-sensor means comprises baffles withinthe feeder pan which shape the downwardly falling feed into amore-or-less confined stream, and one such baffle is movably mounted toact as a paddle-shaped feed-sensor arm. The barrier means is provided asa part of a bearing assembly for the downstream end of thefeed-conveying auger, and includes an arbor rod or shaft journaled in abearing at the end of the auger housing and having a disclike augeranchor immediately adjacent the feed-drop opening in the bottom of theauger housing.

DRAWINGS ln the Drawings:

FlG. l. is a fragmentary perspective view of a feeder system utilizingthe feeder pan of the invention;

MG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of the feeder pan,with certain sections being broken away to show internal details;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a portion of theimproved structure; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional elevation taken through the plane lV-lV ofFIG. 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in more detail to the drawings, theoverall basic nature of a feeder system of the general type with whichthe feeder pan device of the invention is best suited is illustrated inFlG. ll. This feeder mechanism 10 includes a supply hopper 12 which ispreferably suspended from overhead by cables or chains 14, and a feederconveyor 16 communicating with the bottom extremity of the hopper 12 andextending laterally away from the same. As illustrated, the feederconveyor 16 is of the auger type which, as will be understood, includesa movable auger (usually an open-centered helical member) enclosedwithin a relatively closely fitting tubular housing. The auger extendsthrough the bottom of the supply hopper 12 and, in the exampleillustrated, is driven by an electric motor 18 whose output is coupledto a reduction gear head 20. Driving rotation of the auger membertransfers feed from the bottom of the supply hopper 12 along the lengthof the tubular housing 22 for the auger, through openings in the bottomof which the feed drops downwardly into each of a sequence of identicalfeeder pans 24 and into a control feeder pan 26 located at the outboardend extremity of the feeder conveyor. The specific nature of the controlfeeder pan 26, and the concepts underlying the embodiments thereofdisclosed herein, comprise the basis of the present invention.

The outboard end extremity of the feeder conveyor 16, and the controlfeeder pan 26, are seen in more detail in H65. 2, 3, and 4. Referringfirst to FIG. 2, it will be observed that feeder pan 26 has at itsbottom extremity a basically concave, dishlike feed dispensing panportion 28, which is suspended from a vertically disposed hollowcone-shaped feed-drop member 30. The latter should be open at the bottomand also is preferably open at the top, at which location a boxlikehousing 32 for electrical switching means is mounted, described in moredetail hereinafter. As illustrated, a basketlike guard member 34 ispreferably fitted over the top of the feed-drop member to protect switchhousing 32 and prevent it from being jarred or moved inadvertently.

The tubular housing 22 of the feeder conveyor 16 preferably passesdirectly through the upper extremities of the conical feed-drop member39, through an appropriate pair of diametrically opposed aperturesformed in the upper walls thereof. Inside the conical walls of thefeed-drop member 30, and spaced therebetween, the auger tube 22 has anopening 36 (F l6. 2) formed in its bottom extremity, preferably of anextent amounting to the lower one-half of the tubular housing. It isthrough opening 36 that feed being moved along the auger tube entersfeeder pan 26, i.e., by falling downwardly through the aforesaidopening, into and through the feed-drop member 30, and downwardly ontothe feed-dispensing pan 28. As best seen in FIG. 4, this feed firstdrops onto a broadly conical, upraised central portion 28 of thefeed-dispensing pan, which is in vertical alignment with the opening 36in the auger tube. The feed then slides down the inclined surfaces ofthis conical portion and into the annular, dished part of the dispensingpan 28 and, when this dished part becomes filled, the downwardlydropping feed steadily accumulates within the drop member 30, risingupwardly therein.

As the feed falls downwardly through opening 36, it is channeled andguided between a pair of spaced, generally parallel baffle means,including a first flat, vertical baffle 33 and a second similar suchbaffle 4% which extends downwardly a lesser distance than baffle 38.Near the bottom extremity of the shorter baffle 40 is located a movablepaddlelilre baffle element 42. The baffles 38 and 4d are fixed to theinside of the feed-drop member 39, and disposed immediately adjacent andin contact with the sides of the auger tube 22, preferably being mountedby angularly offset end portions as and d1, respectively, which areriveted or otherwise secured to oppositely disposed portions of theconical walls of the feed-drop member.

As stated, the lower baffle element 42 is movably mounted, preferablyupon a rod 44 which passes through offset flanges 46 at each endextremity of this baffle. This rod is journaled in the conical walls ofmember 30, such that the baffle 42 is swingably suspended therefrom byrod 44, with the major portion of this baffle extending downwardly fromthe bottom edge of the fixed baffle 40. Movable baffle 42 has anoutwardly projecting flange 48 at its bottom extremity, by which alinkage 50 connects thereto. This linkage extends upwardly to adownwardly depending flange portion 52 of a plate 53, which is attachedto the bottom of the aforementioned switch housing 32 located at the topof drop member 30.

Switch housing 32 is secured by the aforementioned plate 53 to the topof a pivotable support rod 54, which extends through and is joumaled inoppositely disposed apertures in the upper walls of the drop member 30,immediately above the auger housing 22 (FIGS. 2 and 4). In this manner,the feed which drops downwardly into the drop member 30 from the tubularauger housing 22 will, when the rising level of feed within the latterhas built up to the level at which the bottom of the movable paddle orbaffle 42 is positioned, push this baffle sideways (counterclockwise asseen in FIG. 4) about its mounting rod 44. This moves linkage 50upwardly, thereby pivoting the switch housing 32 about its mounting rod54. Switch housing 32 contains a position-sensitive switch element suchas a mercury switch 56. This switch is connected into the excitationcircuitry for the auger drive motor 18 (FIG. 1), such that when theswitch housing is tipped or tilted in the manner just noted, the switchopens this circuitry to deenergize the drive motor and interrupt theoperation of the auger conveyor, thereby stopping the flow of feeddownwardly into the feeder pan.

In this manner, the movable baffle element 42 acts as a paddlelikefeeler arm or switch arm, the relative position of which controls theoperation of the auger conveyor. In this operation, the sensitivity andoverall reliability of the feed-sensing means, centering about theoperation of the paddlelike feeler arm 42, is greatly enhanced by theaforementioned arrangement of baffles directly flanking the auger tubeand the opening in the bottom thereof through which feed drops. Thesebafiles, of which the feeler arm or blade 42 in essence comprises apart, channel the downwardly falling feed and form it into a reasonablywell defined stream, such that when the feed-dispensing pan 28 becomesfilled and the feed begins to build up within the conical drop member30, the incoming feed is guided directly against the inner surface ofthe feeler arm 42, and the latter is immediately moved whenever thelevel of the feed reaches the bottom of this baffle. This produces amore positive and more certain controlling operation of the supply augerat the desired maximum feed level within the drop member.

It will be noted that the feed-dispensing pan 28 is suspended from thedrop member 30 by links 58 and S-shaped hook members 60, which passthrough and hook into any selected one of a series of apertures 62 (FIG.2) formed in the walls of the drop member. Thus, by placing the hookmembers 60 in different selected individual apertures, the height of thepan 28 with respect to the drop member 30 may be varied and adjusted,thereby simultaneously varying the total volume of feed which will bepresent within the feeder pan when the feed-sensing means shuts theauger conveyor off.

As seen in FIG. 2, the auger tube 22 terminates a brief distancedownstream of the control feeder pan 26. Mounted in the downstream endof the auger tube is a bearing means 64, which comprises a cylindricallystepped housing 66 having a portion of reduced diameter which fitsinside the auger tube and a portion of larger diameter which abuts theend of the tube. The housing 66 encloses a conventional bearing (notspecifically shown) which rotatably mounts an arbor shaft 68 thatextends inwardly of the end of the auger tube, to a position wherein theinner end of the shaft extends across most of the opening 36 in thebottom of the auger tube.

Attached to the arbor shaft 68 at a position immediately adjacent thedownstream edge of the opening 36 in the auger tube is a pluglike member70 of circular cross section (FIGS. 2 and 3) which provides an anchorfor the downstream end of the auger member, designated 72. Morespecifically, the anchor member 70 is a cylindrical metal member whichfits closely within the tubular auger housing and which is fixedlymounted on the arbor shaft 68. The anchor 70 has a helically shapedslotlike opening 74 (FIG. 3) extending along one side, provided for thepurpose of receiving one end of the helical auger member 72. This end ofthe auger is secured in position within the aforementioned slot 74, asby a set screw 76 located within a threaded passage in the anchor 70oriented perpendicular to slot 74 (FIG. 3). In this manner, thedownstream end of the auger is securely anchored to the arbor shaft 68,which in turn is firmly anchored within the auger housing by the bearingmeans 64.

Between the anchor member 70 and the bearing means 64 located at theouter end of the arbor shaft 68 is a circular, disclike element 78(FIGS. 2 and 3). Preferably, this element is comprised of an annularmetal ring 80 welded or otherwise secured onto the arbor shaft, togetherwith a ringlikc member 82 positioned immediately adjacent the metal ring80 and secured thereto by screws 84 or the like. The ring member 82 ismade of a lubricous plastic material such as that known and soldcommercially under the trademark Nylon, and the outer diameter thereofis larger than that of the metal ring 80 to which it is attached, suchthat the plastic ring 82 provides a sliding engagement against the innercircumference of the tubular auger housing 22. In this manner, thedisclike assembly or element 78 functions as a bearing which centers andaxially supports the arbor shaft 68 in place within the auger tube.

Because the diameter of the pluglike anchor member 70 approaches theinner diameter of the auger tube 22, the anchor acts as a barrier tofeed moved along the auger tube by the auger member 72 locatedtherewithin, to obstruct the passing of such feed beyond the location ofthe opening 36 in the bottom of the auger tube and, in effect, to forceall of the feed which is moved by the auger as far as the opening 36downwardly through such opening. Furthermore, because there is a slidingcontact between the outer periphery of the disclike assembly 78 and theinside of the auger tube, this element also acts as a barrier which, dueto the absence of any appreciable clearance between it and the inside ofthe auger tube, will positively block the passage of any feed which doeshappen to work its way or to be forced beyond the position of thepluglike anchor member 70.

Consequently, all such feed is prevented from working its way or beingforced further along the arbor shaft 68 and into the bearing means 64,where such feed would surely foul the bearing and in time cause it tomalfunction. As will be recognized, this is an important feature, sinceit is known that at least small amounts of feed can and sometimes domove across the feed-drop opening 36 and, if not otherwise preventedfrom doing so, this feed will surely find its way into the bearings forthe arbor shaft, or any other similar bearing serving to rotatably mountthe downstream end extremity of the auger. Additionally, in the eventthat the feed-level sensing means within the control feeder pan somehowdoes not operate as soon as it should, as for example if a mechanicalbind or jamming develops, the downwardly falling feed within thefeed-drop member 30 can rapidly build up into a loosely packed pilewhich in effect encloses the bottom of the auger tube, whereuponadditional feed moved along by the auger very strongly tends to moveonward down the auger tube.

The dual barrier means provided by members 70 and 78, in combinationwith the internal baffle structures and the feedsensing arm 42 describedpreviously, cooperate together to very effectively overcome thisprevious source of difficulty. That is, the feed-sensing feeler arm is,in accordance with the present invention, more sensitive and much morereliable in and of itself; together with the positive blockage of feedfrom further travel along the auger tube and the effective forcing ofsuch feed down through the auger tube opening, the endresult in asubstantial elimination of the difficulties attending previous controlfeeder pan devices of a somewhat generally similar nature.

It is entirely conceivable that upon examining the foregoing disclosure,those skilledin the art may devise embodiments of the concept involvedwhich differ somewhat from the embodiment shown and described herein, ormay make various changes in structural details .to the presentembodiment. Consequently, all such changed embodiments or variations instructure as utilize the concepts'of the invention and clearlyincorporate the spiritthereof are to be considered as within the scopeof the claims appended herebelow, unless these claims by their languagespecifically state otherwise.

Weclaim:

1. The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and thelike and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: averticallydisposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feed-dispenser means infeed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member;anopencenter helical-type auger conveyor means having a tubular housingextending diametricallyacross said drop member above said dispensermeans;,said tubular housing having an opening therein located invertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, such thatfeed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin will falldownward through said opening and into said drop member;and-feedblocking barrier means located within said tubular housing inproximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage offeed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means, said barriermeans including a pluglike member of generally circular cross sectionhaving means defining an opening spaced radially from the center thereoffor removably receiving portions of said helical auger.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, including means for releasablyattaching said pluglike member to said auger, such that said member isrotated within said housing by rotary movement of said auger.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said conveyor meansfurther includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and abearing means journaling said shaft within such housing, said pluglikemember being mounted upon said shaft.

4. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein said auger ends at saidpluglike member and such member is secured to said shaft to form ananchor for said auger.

5. The combination recited in claim 3, wherein said barrier meansfurther includes at least one circular disclike element mounted on saidshaft and fitting within said housing, said element having a diameterclosely approaching the inside diameter of said housing and acting bothas a bearing for said shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage offeed therebeyond.

6. The combination recited in claim 5, wherein said disclike element issecured onto said shaft for rotation within said housing.

7. The combination recited in claim 6, wherein said element hasperipheral portions of lubricous material for smooth sliding rotationalcontact with the interior of said housing.

8. The combination recited inclaim 1, wherein said conveyor meansfurther includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and abearing means journaling said shaft livestock'and the-like and anauger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically dispose laterallyenclosed eed-drop member; feed-dispenser means in feed flowcommunication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; anauger-type conveyor means having a tubular housing extendingdiametrically across said drop member above said dispenser means; saidtubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignmentwith the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved alongsaid tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward throughsaid opening and into said drop member; feed blocking barrier meanslocated within said tubular housing in proximity with the said openingtherein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing topoints beyond the barrier means; said conveyor means including anelectric drive motor for said auger and said feeddrop memberincorporating sensor means for deenergizing such motor when apredetermined amount of feed is present within said drop member; saidsensor means including a padbaffle means extending downwardly of saidauger housing opening to at least partially confine feed droppingdownwardly through such opening into'a stream, said feeler arm meansbeing positioned along a side of such stream.

10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said baffle meansincludes a flat baffle member positioned in a plane located at one sideof said auger housing opening.

11. The combination recited in claim 10, wherein said feeler arm meansis positioned generally parallel to said flat baffle member and isspaced laterally therefrom, said stream passing between said baffle andsaid feeler arm means.

12. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said barrier meansincludes a pluglike member of generally circular cross section, saidmember being attached to said auger and rotated within said housing byrotary movement of said auger.

13. The combination recited inclaim 12, wherein said conveyor meansfurther includes an arbor shaft located within said auger housing and abearing means journaling said shaft within such housing, said pluglikemember being mounted upon said shaft.

14. The combination recited in claim l3, wherein said barrier meansincludes at least one circular disclike element mounted on said shaftand fitting within said housing, said element having a diameter closelyapproaching the inside. diameter of said housing and acting both as abearing for said shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage of feedtherebeyond.

15. The combination recited in claim l4, wherein said disclike elementis secured onto said shaft for rotation within said housing, and whereinsaid element has peripheral portions of lubricous material for smoothsliding rotational contact with the interior of said housing.

Big D P-409 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTIONPatent No. 3,566,843 Dated March 2, 1971 hventmlw) Robert L. Van Huis,Dee Dexter Allen It is certified that error appears in theabove-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebjcorrected as shown below:

Column 1, Line 65;

After "disclike" insert bearing along its lengt together with aplug-like Signed and sealed this 13th day of July 1 971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FIETCHER,JR. WILLIAM-E. SCHUYLER, J1 Attesting OfficerCommissioner of Patent

1. The combination of a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and thelike and an auger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a verticallydisposed laterally enclosed feed-drop member; feeddispenser means infeed flow communication with the bottom extremity of said drop member;an open-center helical-type auger conveyor means having a tubularhousing extending diametrically across said drop member above saiddispEnser means; said tubular housing having an opening therein locatedin vertical alignment with the interior of said feed-drop member, suchthat feed moved along said tubular housing by the auger therewithin willfall downward through said opening and into said drop member; andfeed-blocking barrier means located within said tubular housing inproximity with the said opening therein, for obstructing the passage offeed along said housing to points beyond the barrier means, said barriermeans including a pluglike member of generally circular cross sectionhaving means defining an opening spaced radially from the center thereoffor removably receiving portions of said helical auger.
 2. Thecombination recited in claim 1, including means for releasably attachingsaid pluglike member to said auger, such that said member is rotatedwithin said housing by rotary movement of said auger.
 3. The combinationrecited in claim 2, wherein said conveyor means further includes anarbor shaft located within said auger housing and a bearing meansjournaling said shaft within such housing, said pluglike member beingmounted upon said shaft.
 4. The combination recited in claim 3, whereinsaid auger ends at said pluglike member and such member is secured tosaid shaft to form an anchor for said auger.
 5. The combination recitedin claim 3, wherein said barrier means further includes at least onecircular disclike element mounted on said shaft and fitting within saidhousing, said element having a diameter closely approaching the insidediameter of said housing and acting both as a bearing for said shaft andas a barrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond.
 6. Thecombination recited in claim 5, wherein said disclike element is securedonto said shaft for rotation within said housing.
 7. The combinationrecited in claim 6, wherein said element has peripheral portions oflubricous material for smooth sliding rotational contact with theinterior of said housing.
 8. The combination recited in claim 1, whereinsaid conveyor means further includes an arbor shaft located within saidauger housing and a bearing means journaling said shaft within suchhousing, wherein said barrier means includes at least one circulardisclike element mounted on said shaft and fitting within said housing,said element having a diameter closely approaching the inside diameterof said housing and acting both as a bearing for said shaft and as abarrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond, and said elementhaving peripheral portions of lubricous material for smooth slidingrotational contact with the interior of said housing.
 9. The combinationof a feeder pan means for poultry, livestock and the like and anauger-type feed conveyor which comprises: a vertically disposedlaterally enclosed feed-drop member; feed-dispenser means in feed flowcommunication with the bottom extremity of said drop member; anauger-type conveyor means having a tubular housing extendingdiametrically across said drop member above said dispenser means; saidtubular housing having an opening therein located in vertical alignmentwith the interior of said feed-drop member, such that feed moved alongsaid tubular housing by the auger therewithin will fall downward throughsaid opening and into said drop member; feed blocking barrier meanslocated within said tubular housing in proximity with the said openingtherein, for obstructing the passage of feed along said housing topoints beyond the barrier means; said conveyor means including anelectric drive motor for said auger and said feed-drop memberincorporating sensor means for deenergizing such motor when apredetermined amount of feed is present within said drop member; saidsensor means including a paddlelike feeler arm means mounted formovement in response to rising levels of feed within said drop memberand switching means actuable upon a predetermined extent of movement ofsaid arm means; and said feed-drop member including internal bafflemeAns extending downwardly of said auger housing opening to at leastpartially confine feed dropping downwardly through such opening into astream, said feeler arm means being positioned along a side of suchstream.
 10. The combination recited in claim 9, wherein said bafflemeans includes a flat baffle member positioned in a plane located at oneside of said auger housing opening.
 11. The combination recited in claim10, wherein said feeler arm means is positioned generally parallel tosaid flat baffle member and is spaced laterally therefrom, said streampassing between said baffle and said feeler arm means.
 12. Thecombination recited in claim 9, wherein said barrier means includes apluglike member of generally circular cross section, said member beingattached to said auger and rotated within said housing by rotarymovement of said auger.
 13. The combination recited in claim 12, whereinsaid conveyor means further includes an arbor shaft located within saidauger housing and a bearing means journaling said shaft within suchhousing, said pluglike member being mounted upon said shaft.
 14. Thecombination recited in claim 13, wherein said barrier means includes atleast one circular disclike element mounted on said shaft and fittingwithin said housing, said element having a diameter closely approachingthe inside diameter of said housing and acting both as a bearing forsaid shaft and as a barrier to prevent the passage of feed therebeyond.15. The combination recited in claim 14, wherein said disclike elementis secured onto said shaft for rotation within said housing, and whereinsaid element has peripheral portions of lubricous material for smoothsliding rotational contact with the interior of said housing.